NAGPUR, India (Reuters) - Australia will hope to draw inspiration from their brave batting performance in the last test when they bid to square the four-match series against India.

India lead 1-0 going into the final test on Thursday after winning the second in Mohali by 320 runs but have been unsettled by the abrupt retirement of captain Anil Kumble. They are also waiting on an appeal against a ban on in-form batsman Gautam Gambhir.

Australia's top-four batsmen scored fifties and Michael Clarke hit a century in a total of 577 in reply to India's 613 for seven declared before the bowlers gave India a fright by reducing them to 93 for four in the last test which was drawn.

It was a remarkable recovery by Australia whose shortcomings against reverse swing had been expoited during the second test by Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting told reporters that the touring side might consider changes in the bowling attack after they took only 12 wickets in Delhi.

Australia, 2-1 winners over India at home this year, sealed their first series victory in India for 35 years in Nagpur in 2004 by winning the third test by 342 runs.

But the world's top-ranked team are rebuilding after a number of high-profile retirements and are struggling particularly in the bowling department.

India, meanwhile, will look to wrap up the series as a fitting farewell to the country's most successful test captain Saurav Ganguly who is playing in his last test. Mahendra Singh Dhoni will lead the side.

It will also be Vangipurappu Laxman's 100th test and the stylish middle-order batsman is in form after scoring 200 not out and 59 not out in Delhi.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, one short of 300 test wickets, is expected to play after missing the last test with a toe injury.

However, Gambhir's availability is uncertain after he was charged for elbowing Australian all-rounder Shane Watson during the third test.

The Indian Board has lodged an appeal which will be heard by senior South African judge Albie Sachs by Friday, pending which he can continue to play.

West Indian captain Chris Gayle Wednesday said Australia's Test series defeat in India could be a turning point in international cricket that will make the game better.
India beat Australia 2-0 in the four-match series, raising hopes that a team other than Australia could become world champions in the future.

Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting Tuesday said his team had to put their loss to India behind them as quickly as possible, as he defended his captaincy during the series.
Australia's 2-0 loss to India has raised concerns that the world champions' dominance of the game is fading, particularly after the retirement of the likes of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist.

Batsman Sourav Ganguly ended his illustrious international career here on Monday on a contented note, saying he saw a bright future for Indian cricket.
The 36-year-old former captain, who had already announced he would quit after the Australia series, will always be known for transforming India into a formidable unit at home as well as away, backing youngsters and defying odds.

Former cricket greats and the media on Tuesday celebrated India's Test series win over Australia, saying Mahendra Dhoni's team had changed the world order.
Newspapers echoed US president-elect Barack Obama's clarion call of "Yes we can" after India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur on Monday following a 172-run triumph in the final Test.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting on Monday defended his controversial decision to use part-time bowlers at a crucial stage in the fourth and final Test against India here.
He was criticised for pressing part-timers Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke into the attack in a bid to make up for a slow over-rate on Sunday when India were struggling to set a stiff fourth-innings target.